Bank of England’s Gold-Diggers Grapple With Trump-Fueled Frenzy
In a subterranean vault deep under the streets of the City of London, a small team is rushing to keep up with traders’ orders to move their bullion to New York.
The gold vaults under the Bank of England are among the most secure storage facilities on the planet.
Photographer: Jason Alden/BloombergEvery day in London, thousands of commuters on the Central Line take a subterranean detour around the Bank of England’s vast underground vaults, bringing them as close as they're ever likely to get to the $500 billion of gold the bank holds on behalf of nation states, commercial banks and other financial institutions. Tube trains come so close that staff inside sometimes report hearing a dull hum as they pass.
Since January, the small team overseeing the reserves has had little time to take notice. They have been working flat out to do what the Bank describes as “digging out” gold bars for delivery to traders who've seized on a rare arbitrage opportunity thrown up by speculation that Donald Trump will impose tariffs on the precious metal, alongside a raft of other imported goods.